Mother's Presence rates highly for Saturday's Wauchope race meeting

RACEGOERS usually find a winner or two from a Wauchope trainer but will have to rely on only two at Wauchope Jockey Club’s free entry Lasiandra Cup meeting at its Beechwood Road track on Saturday.

One of them is four-year-old mare Mother’s Presence, a last start winner at Armidale, trained by Grant Prosser, husband of club secretary Debbie Prosser.

At most meetings at Wauchope, locals especially rely on backing gallopers trained on the track and have had plenty of success.

Mother’s Presence rates highly with local jockey Belinda Hodder in the saddle in the M & S Print Class 1 Handicap over 1240m.

The mare will be having her 17th start and apart from the one win has had four placings,one of them being a second at the track.

The trainer said the mare has pace at the start and this was the case when she sped to the lead from a wide barrier over 1300m at Armidale on April 10 and scored by a half length.

“She has done well since and should be suited at home providing the track is not rain affected.”

But there still might be plenty for the locals to celebrate as one of their own, Port Macquarie premier jockey Peter Graham has some good rides and usually justifies the faith put in his mounts.

One of them is five-year-old Cessnock gelding Finnero, trained by Jason Waters, a regular visitor to Wauchope meetings.

Finnero is expected to run better than its 12th over 1600m at Scone last start when it met a strong field and is better served in the Benchmark 45 Handicap Lasiandra Cup over 1650m.

“I have freshened him up and he has trained on good,” Waters said.

“He has been knocking on the door for a win and his third (three starts back) was in a pretty strong race,” he said.

Finnero in 23 starts has had a win and seven placings and on his best form should go close.

The class act is Wauchope’s second starter, Admiral Ruff, trained by Colt Prosser, which is on trial at the distance but has won five races and been placed seven times in 38 starts.

Taree trainer Tess Wilkes could have a hand in the cup finish as her two, Prince Coureuse and Unique Dream will be suited by the class and distance.

Three starts back five-year-old gelding Prince Coureuse was fifth to Southern Delight over 2000m in heavy ground at Taree on April 1.

Graham also has a good ride in five-year-old gelding I Am Dynamic, trained at Scone by Jenelle Butler, in the Wauchope RSL Class 1 Handicap over 1000m.

It has had one start at Wauchope and won at the distance with Graham in the saddle.

“I am hoping for a repeat performance,” Butler said.

“My horse was beaten a half-head over 950m at Moree last start and is looking for a bit further.”

There are 18 good reasons for Tuncurry trainer Terry Evans wanting a win with four-year-old mare Tuncurry Girl in the Bago Real Estate Maiden Plate over 1650m.

That is the number of owners in the galloper with about ninety percent of them being women who are first time owners from Tuncurry.

Its form reads 11 starts without a placing but last start it wasn’t far behind (3.35 lengths) Taree winner A lot Like Home and it won again at Grafton a week ago and is in the Highway race in Sydney on Saturday.

Premier jockey Peter Graham has a good book of rides at Saturday's Wauchope races.